I’ve heard many people tell me in my career that the sign of a good designer is one who never has an up-to-date website. And I have to agree with that. It’s been 5 months since I wrote a blog, and I thought it was about time that I pointed the finger at the the cause of the utter craziness in my life… Baby Farrow #2.
Yes, you read that right. Baby Farrow #2 is well and truly cooking. I am nearly 7 months pregnant and what I was predicting to be plain sailing (much like my pregnancy with Hugo) I have been well and truly mistaken. I have never been so sick in all my life, and there have been days where I quite simply do not know how I have managed. But, on the flip side, Hugo was never once late for school, and even in the darkest days of sickness (which are not over yet, I might add!) I never missed a minute of work. In fact, June & July recorded my highest ever income so it can’t have been all bad, right?
Let’s also throw into the mix my crazy desire to have all bedrooms and hallway decorated and re-carpeted before October. I know this baby isn’t due until November but no one wants to be more than 8 months pregnant and decorating up a ladder. So to say I have been a bit pre-occupied is an understatement.
Along with being self employed and now pregnant, this isn’t the first time I have had to consider the impact that becoming a mum will have on my career. When I had Hugo I was employed. I never once questioned my decision to go on maternity leave and to take a guilt-free whole year off. I made the most of every second and that year holds memories that I quite simply will never forget. However, being self employed this time around and effectively shutting down my business for the best part of a year, I am forever asking myself the question “am I mad?” I have spent the last 18 months building up the most wonderful client base and now I spend a lot of time wondering what the future holds.
Returning to work with two children at very different stages in their lives, needing to be picked up from different places at different times – will I have the time to work as hard as I have been? I keep thinking that the answer is likely to be no. But this time 18 months ago I didn’t think it would be possible to grow my business in the way I have done with 18 new clients, a fantastic contract and a smile upon my face. So, what am I so afraid of? I mean, if I’ve done it once I can do it again, right? And the wonderful clients that have grown to become such great friends aren’t going far (at least I don’t think they are).
One thing I do know is that I will find the right balance – I will figure out the best way to adapt my life to fit around having two children because this is the biggest bonus of being self employed. And I cannot wait for the challenge.
Maternity leave officially begins on 1st November, so drop me a line if you need anything sorted before I disappear for a bit. But time really does fly so I’ll be back to my usual self before you know it.
Photos by Markus Spiske, insung yoon and Baby Natur.